Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 09-04-12 regular — reading text

Special Budget Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach N Monday, August 13, 2012 5: 30 PM 107 Miracle Strip Parkway as 7 Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 C w O CALL TO ORDER i0 O 5: 30 PM Meeting was called to order on August 13, 2012 at Council Chamber, 107 Miracle Strip a a Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, FL. a N Attendee Name i Title Status Arrived 07 N Mike Anderson Mayor Present Bobby Griggs Council Seat 1 Absent joyce gossom Council Seat 2 Present Dennis Reeves Council Seat 3 Absent Trey Goodwin Council Seat 4 Present Bobby Nabors Council Seat 5 Present 5: 40 PM Bull Rigdon Council Seat 6 Present Dick Rynearson Council Seat 7 Present Mr. Griggs and Mr. Reeves were absent; Mr. Nabors arrived at 5: 40 pm. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE APPROVAL OF AGENDA The vote to annrove the agenda as presented carried u RESULT: APPROVED 14 TO 01 MOVER: Dick Rynearson, Council Seat 7 SECONDER: Bull Rigdon, Council Seat 6 AYES: joyce gossom, Trey Goodwin, Bull Rigdon, Dick Rynearson ABSENT: Bobby Griggs, Dennis Reeves, Bobby Nabors AWAY: Mike Anderson PRESENTATIONS Request for Funding from the Air Armament Museum Paul Maryeski, Executive Director of the Air Force Armament Museum Foundation, requested financial support in the amount of $5, 000 for the Foundation which exists solely to support the mission of the Armament Museum. City Council of Fort Walton Beach Page I ' Special Meeting Minutes August 13, 2012 Mr. Maryeski explained the Museum serves the community and tourists alike, it has an education initiative which is in partnership with the Okaloosa School District, and that the City's contribution will help ensure continued education excellence with the School District. Mr. Maryeski stated the amount of $5, 000 is not paramount; the Foundation is seeking assistance from neighboring municipalities and businesses, and that the Foundation will not necessarily request assistance on a yearly basis. Also the City would receive recognition for their contribution. Brandy Ferris, Finance Director, advised any funding would come out of reserve for this one year. w Dr. gossom moved to provide a one -time funding amount of $2, 500. 00 in support of the Air —° N Force Armament Museum. Motion failed for lack of a second. ' oL CL a Request for Funding— Chamber of Commerce a The Mayor clarified that $ 20,000 for funding for the Chamber of Commerce has been budgeted N from the CRA budget and $ 14, 000 budgeted for the TDC from the general fund, for a total of 34, 000. 00 for outside agencies. It was noted there was no representative from the Chamber of Commerce present at this time, but that a letter was received outlining their request. Mr. Nabors expressed concern regarding funding outside agencies, as funding should be for specific needs or benefits for the City and not just for the operating costs of an organization. Dr. gossom stated similar thoughts, stating she would like to see a targeted initiative between the City and the Chamber to include goals, plans, and accomplishments, and suggested an initiative for the City and Chamber to partner to express appreciation to City businesses that remained open despite the economic turmoil. The Mayor explained the premise in the past was to fund agencies that provide services and promotes the City, as well as those agencies that bring jobs to the City, and questioned how changing to specific projects or goals would change the funding. The Mayor suggested that setting aside a lump sum for outside groups to use as needed for specific projects in the future might be beneficial. Council discussion included that employees are not getting raises and CIP' s are being moved to future years, and in that respect it is difficult to give funding to outside organizations; that 20, 000 could be used by other groups to promote the city; specific funding would mean more since every dollar is important; and that funding to an organization that might provide a benefit to the City should not be stopped. Discussion was held to suspend Roberts Rules of Order for the meeting in order to allow better discussion of the items. The vote on the motion to suspend Roberts Rules of Order for this discussion carried unanimously. City Council ofFort Walton Beach Page 2 PaCl et Pg. 1il :,,: Special Meeting Minutes August 13, 2012 RESULT: APPROVED [ UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Trey Goodwin, Council Seat 4 SECONDER: joyce gossom, Council Seat 2 AYES: gossom, Goodwin, Nabors, Rigdon, Rynearson ABSENT: Bobby Griggs, Dennis Reeves Ted Corcoran, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, arrived and described the benefits the Chamber provides to the City, including promoting and marketing the City in all of N their activities and advertising; planning events that enhance the quality of life in the community; providing relocation services; and noted the City and the Chamber have been partners for over =_ 20 years in working on ways to benefit and enhance quality of life for City residents. o M Council reiterated their concerns to Mr. Corcoran and that they would like to see specific c initiatives and requested periodic updates on Chamber activities and functions. a Acting City Manager Michael Beedie stated he has met with Mr. Corcoran and discussed N numerous opportunities that have not yet been explored that will prove beneficial to the City, and r that time will be needed to develop these opportunities. C4 Further discussion included that $ 20, 000 to fund the Chamber comes from the CRA fund. Mr. Corcoran stated that half of the efforts in promoting and marketing the area are spent in the downtown area, which houses the CRA; however, other areas of the City, such as the uptown area, are promoted as well. Mr. Nabors moved to fund $20, 000 for the Chamber of Commerce from the CRA Fund and that 14,000 from the general fund be allotted to use at a later date as Council sees fit for outside agencies. Motion died for lack of a second. The vote on the motion to fund $ 20, 000 to the Chamber of Commerce from CRA funds carried unanimouslv. RESULT: ADOPTED [ UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Bull Rigdon, Council Seat 6 SECONDER: joyce gossom, Council Seat 2 AYES: gossom, Goodwin, Nabors, Rigdon, Rynearson ABSENT: Bobby Griggs, Dennis Reeves Request for Funding - Distinguished Young Women of Okaloosa County, Inc The Mayor advised no representative from the Distinguished Young Women of Okaloosa County was present but that a letter was received outlining their request. No action was taken on this request. Request for Funding by Economic Development Council The Mayor advised no representative from the Economic Development Council ( EDC) was present but that a letter was received outlining their request. City Council of Fort Walton Beach Page 3  Minutes August 13, 2012 Special Meeting Mr. Nabors stated funding for the EDC has always been personally challenging for him, and although the EDC does a good job keeping Council informed, he feels the City does not receive much of a benefit from them. Dr. gossom, as EDC representative on Council, stated the benefits this past year have improved since previous years and that the EDC should work with the City Manager to determine what types of businesses the City wants to promote so the EDC has a clear direction from the Council. Mr. Beedie advised he will meet with the EDC to discuss their goals and ask them to focus more a on the City of Fort Walton Beach.